Book Review: Cinders & Sapphires Ny: Leila Rasheed

January 3, 2014

Book Description:One house, two worlds…

Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.My Thoughts:I was sooo forward to reading this, especially since I kept hearing that if you like Downton Abby, you’ll like this! well… I enjoyed it! It was a little TOO much like Downton Abby right down to even having a gay character side story.

What was fun about this (especially if you like Downton Abby) is that you get a fun story that includes EVERYBODY, some servants, the household and friends. It was well written and would’ve been well thought out if Downton Abby hadn’t come out first. It had an easy flow but a ton of characters that at times I had to stop and go back to remember who was who.

I don’t have much to say about this book especially since I didn’t find it amazing. It was cute but nothing I would read again. There was only ONE character that I wanted to follow the rest were catty and even felt like I was reading Gossip Girl! Geez. Where the wealthy really that shallow? It was a bit ridiculous. Rose was the only interesting character and wanted to follow the rest could’ve fallen off the pages and I would’ve been fine but then I guess this book would’ve been 40 pages long.

Overall: If you are a HUGE fan of Downton Abby and don’t mind reading almost the same thing as watching then go ahead. It was meh, ok for me.